schumacher



1. SCHUMACHER. PROCESS AND MEANS FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARD AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1920. 1,379,940, Patantefi M331, 1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. SCHUMACHEB.

PROCESS AND MEANS FOR MAIHNG PLASTER BOARD AND HE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1920.

1,379,940. Patented May31,1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ A /W/W J. SCHUMACHER.

- PROCESS AND. MEANS FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARD AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY1O1'1920- Patented Ma 31, 1921.

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PROCESS AND MEANS FORMAKING PLASTER BOARD AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIOI-IQZO.

Patented May 31, 1921.

a eu M W w SCHUMACHER.

PROCESS AND MEANS FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARD AND THE LIKE.

MAY 10, I920.

APRHCAHON F LED 1,879,940. Eatenied Ma 31, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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APPLICATIONHLED MAY1011920.

1 79 ,940. Patented May 31, 1921.

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rnocnss AND MEANS iron inst-sine rizes'rnenonien AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Eatent. I a,t;@nted pl 31 1 21 -Applicatio'nfiled May 10, 1920. Serial No. 380,09F.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, dorm SOHUMAOHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles in the county of Los Angeles and State ofGalifornia,"have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes andMeans for Making Plaster-Board and thelike, of which the following is .aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved process and means of making'andhandling plasterboard. Such board comprises a sheet of paper orpaperboard and a coating of plastic material applied thereto. As is wellknown in this art, the plastic material may include as its ingredients,plaster, cement, or compositions ofthe same applied. to the sheet in itsplastic form and then allowed to set, the plastic material adhering tothe sheet in its final shape as a stiff plaster board. 1

In the manufacture of such plaster board, it is the common practic tocontinuously feed sheets of paper between which the plastic material. isinterposed. the paper .and plastic material, are commonly fed from astationary structure upon a conveyor, severed into initial lengths andpiled on trays for convenience in handling during the final steps. Sucharrangement of apparatus requires a large floor spaceand muchhandlingiof the plaster board, which, in its soft state, requiresslrilland care. Trays or receptacles for the plaster board must be movedfromplace to place in loading and following out the various stepsof theprocess.

It is the primaryobject of this invention to provide a process and meansto carry out such process, whereby apparatus for initially forming theplaster board may be moved' w1th respect to the receivers for the board,

the soft board flowing upon the receivers Wllllfl the latter arestationary.

The, above mentioned objects together with other objectsandcorresponding accomplishments may beobtained by means of the assemblage,arrangement and aggroupment ofmean's and mechanisms illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for conveniently carryingoutthe' steps of the process; Fig. 2 is a cross-section as seen on the"line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section as seen onthe line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is a plan view of the structure shown inFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a forming mechanism E. j is mounted to traveltransversely of the structure upon a traveling platform F. The

In such apparatus diagrammatic section as seen on the line 5--5- of Fig.1; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; F lg. 7 is asection taken on the line 77-? of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionof the reversing gearing taken'on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 5 and Fig. 9 1sa section taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 1 showing the means forsevering the board between the receiving cars.

lteferring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 9, A indicates ahopperin fixed position for supplying plasticmaterial to tubs indicatedgenerally by B. 1 These tubs are supported upon a framework C. Atraveling hoist D is provided for the purpose of moving the tubs B toand from plaster board The mechanism. E

platform is mounted for traveling longitudinally. of the structure upona girder framework Thus, the plaster board forming mechanism is mountedto travel transversely and longitudinally overhead. Disposed beneath thepath oftravel of the plaster board forming mechanism are cars carrymgreceiving trays, all being indicated generally by H. Also mounted fortravel upon the girder framework is a platform J, uponwhich is mountedfor travel a severing means K, whereby the board may be severed betweentrays.

ldounted above the hopper structure A is a composition mixing trough '12having mixmg blades 18 rotatably mounted therein and driven by suitablemeans. A water supply pipe let is provided above the trough, andadjacent to the latter is a platform 15 for a mining operator. Theplatform is also convenient for holding the ingredients indi cated' by'16, facilitating thecharging of the mixer and the handling of theingredients used in the plastic composition. The hopper A is providedwitha spout 17 equipped with a suitable discharge gate 18.

I lt/iounted upon a platform 19 below platform 15 is a frameworkcarryingrails 20. The tubs B each comprise a receptacle 21 girded by aframe 22, upon which are journaled wheels The tubs are supported upontherails 20 through the wheels with hooks 26 on the tubs. Thus, the tubsmay be lifted from the rails 20 and transferred to the plaster boardforming mechanism or vice versa. 7

Referring to the girder structure G, it com prises columns 29 suitablybraced and supporting girders 30. The girders are arranged in twoparallel rows, each row having a rail 31 mounted thereon. The railsprovide ways for the travel longitudinally of the cutting mechanism andthe platform F.

The platform F comprises a rectangular frame 32 spanning the girders 30.Journaled upon the frame at the corners thereof are wheels mounted uponrails 31, so that the platform can travel back and forth upon the girderstructure. The forward wheels constitute driving wheels, and fixed tothe axles thereof are sprocket wheels 34. The wheels 34 are geared towheels 35 by means of chains 86. Each wheel 35 is fixed to the end of ashaft 37, best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Shaft 37 is driven through a.gearing later described. Mounted upon the frame 32 are parallel rails 38forming ways for the travel of the plaster forming mechanism.

The plaster forming mechanism comprises a base frame 39 supported uponwheels 40 journaled thereon. The wheels 40 ride upon the rails 38, sothat the plaster forming mechanism can travel along the platform Ftransversely of the structure. Each of a pair of wheels 40 upon oppositesides of the frame 39 are fixed to stub axles 41, best shown in Figs. 3,4, and 7. Fixed to each axle 41 is a spur gear 42. Each spur gear is inmesh with a pinion 43. The pinion gears 43 are fixed to a shaft 44.Fixed to the shaft 44 is a sheave wheel 45 serving to drive the shaftand operated by means of a chain 46 passing thereover. As the plasterforming mechanism is moved transversely of the structure at intervals tofeed plaster board to trains of cars arranged parallel, it is sufficientto move the plaster board forming mechanism by hand power.

Secured to corresponding beams on the frame 39 are triangular plates 48,see Figs. 1, 3. and 7. At the bottom of the plates are bushings 49 and50. Shaft 37 is journaled in bushing 50. Rot-atably mounted in bushing49 is a sleeve 51, to which is secured a sprocket wheel 52. The innerend of sleeve 51 is provided with clutch jaws. Fixed to sleeve 51 is abevel gear 53. Spaced therefrom and rotatably mounted upon the shaft 87is a similar bevel. gear 54 having a clutch jaw. Meshing with bevelgears 53 and 54 is a bevel gear 55 rotatably secured to a plate 56extending between plates 48. It is obvious that gear 55 will drive gears53 and 54 in opposite directions. Splined to shaft 87 and disposedbetween gears 53 and 54 is a clutch sleeve 57. Sleeve 57 is pro videdupon opposite ends wit-h jaws for engagement with either gear 53 or gear54. Thus, if the sleeve isengaged with gear 54 shaft 37 will be drivenin one direction, and if the sleeve is engaged with gear 53, the shaftwill be driven in the opposite direction. Motion is transmitted from theshaft 37 to the drive wheels of the platform, and the latter caused tomove backward or forward. A shift lever 58 secured to the sleeve 57. Theshift lever is connected by a link 59 to a control lever 60, whereby anoperator by shifting the clutch may cause the platform to travel forwardor backward at will or stop. Sprocket wheel 52 is geared to a wheelmounted upon a drive shaft by means of a chain 61. Mounted upon thebeams of the frame 39 are pillow blocks 62, in which is journaled ashaft The shaft 6-3 overhangs one of the pillow blocks and is journaledin a bearing block 64. Fixed to shaft 63 and inside of block 64 is a.worm wheel 65. lvleshing with worm wheel 65 is a worm mounted upon ashaft 66 driven by a motor 67. Also fixed to shaft (33 is a doublesprocket wheel 68, over which passes chain 61, driving gear on shaft 37.

A roller 7 0 is fixed to shaft 63 so as to be driven thereby.Cotiperating with roller 70 is a pressure roller 71, see Fig. 5,journaled in sliding blocks 72 mounted in ways upon pillow blocks 62.Blocks 72 are resiliently held in position by means of springs on eitherside thereof, and their position is adjusted by means of hand wheels 73.This provides for controlling the thickness of the plaster board.Rotatably mounted upon the frameworh 39 are rolls of paper 74 and 75. Aweb of paper is led from roll 74 around a guide roller 76 and overroller 70. A web of paper from roller is led over a guide roller 77 andover pressure roller 71. Embracing a portion of roller 7 O is a box 7 8,the bottom thereof being open and one side being cut away to permit aportion of pressure roller 71 to pass therein. Box 7 8 serves to receivethe plastic composition from a tub 21 and to guide it to and between thewebs of papers passing from rolls 74 and 75. The bottom of each tub isprovided with a spout 79 and a gate valve 80 to control the flow ofplastic composition from the tub to the box.

From the construction just described,"it' is obvious that theplastic'composition is fed positively driven by itsfriction'with thevsurface of roller -70.* The paper adhering to the other surface oftheplastic composition will be assisted'in its travel from roll 75. i Theinitiallyformedsoft plaster board is delivered to a conveyer whichissupported from the frame 39 and extends downwardly toward the cars towhich the plaster board is delivered. i

The conveyercomprises a frame work 81 pivotal]; supportedupon the framework 39. The upper ends'of theside 'membersof the frai'nework 81 arepivotally mounted upon. a shaft 82. Shaft 82 is journaled in frame 39and has-fixed thereto a drive roller 83 forthe endless conveyor 84'.Adjustably mounted at the far end of the frame 81 is a roller over whichconveyor 84 passes. Fixed to the; end of shaft82' is a pinion 86meshing" with agear 87; Gear 87 is fixed toa stub shaft having secured.thereto a sprocket wheel 88'; Sprocket wheel 88 is geared by admin 89tothe sprocket wheel 68 mounted on shaft 63. This provides for drivingroller 83 at the speed corresponding to roller 70. Secured to theconveyer frame adjacent its far end is a bail 90 having a cable 91.secured thereto and passing over an idler wheel 92 journaled in frame39. Secured to the free end ofcable 91 is a counterweight 93; Bymeansofthis construction, the delivery end of the conveyer may be raised andlowered. 1

Referring to Figs. '3 and 5, itwill be noted that plasterboard passesfrom the plaster board forming -mechanis1n upon the conveyer, is carriedtherealong and delivered from the end; The processis continuous. When atub 21 mounted on-the plaster forming mechanism. is emptied, the latteris moved to one endof the platform Fxadjacent the framework 19. YThehoistD is'then lowered. to engage the empty tub, and the latter islifted and placed upon the rails'20 at their left hand ends as shown inFig. 2. A full tub 21 is then engaged'bythe hoist and loweredtotheplasterboard forming mechanism. Atubflwhich has been filled and restsupon the rails'20 is then moved to the right hand end thereof, ridingupon the rails 20. The plasterboard forming mechanism is movedtransversely of=the structure so that the conveyor is disposed over atrain of-cars ha'vingtrays to'be filled. The end. of the conveyerdisposed 'ajshort distance above the surface upon which the board-isto'be laid. The platform is then moved to one end ofthe structurebymeans of the motor mechanism and the plaster forming mechanism startedas well as the platform, so that the latter travels to the other endofthe train. 111- its travel a length of plaster board is laid from oneend of the train to the other. When the other end of the train isreached, the plas ter board is severed and the platform started in thereverse direction. When the other end of thetrain is reached the boardis severed, and this is continued until the requi site numberof layersof plaster board have been stacked, one on top of the other.

Itisnecessary to sever the plaster board between cars, in order that thereceivers or trays thereon may be handled independently. For thispurpose a cutting mechanism is provided. Referring particularly to Figs.1 and 9, this may comprise a platform J mounted on wheels and'travelinglongitudinally of the structure. The platform is equipped with drivingwheels and gearing similar to: that for the plaster forming mechanism.However, it is operated manually from a sheave wheel 94 and a chain 95.Traveling upon the platform J is a frame indicated generally by 96. Thisframe is moved back and forthupon the platform through gearing and asheave wheel 97 rotated by means of a chain 98. Suspended from the frame96 is saw frame 99 having a circular saw 100 rotatably mounted at thelower end. The saw is operatedby means of a belt 101 driven from a motor102 mounted upon frame 96. A link may depend from theframe and beconnected to astarting switch for the motor. It is obvious that theplatform J and the cutting mechanism K may be moved to a point over atrain of cars, the motor 102 started, and theframe 99 moved so that thesaw 100 cuts the piles of plaster board, separating, those on adjacentcars.

It is obvious that this invention provides for a process to make" andhandle plaster board by moving theplaster board forming inechanismbackand forth so as to deliver the plaster board in layers to receivers.

What I claim is: 1

. 1. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and thelike, which consists in continuously forming flexible plaster board,reciprocating the forming mechanism above a receiver, and flowing saidplaster board upon said receiver during travel of said mechanism so thatthe board is stacked in layers on said receiver.

2. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which consists in continuously forming plaster board, reciprocating theforming mechanism. above a receiver, flowing said plaster board uponsaid receiver during. travel of said n1echanism, and severing saidplaster board at the ends of'its travel in either direction.

3. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which con sists in continuously forming flexible plaster mechanism abovea receiver, laying the plaster board downwardly upon said receiverduring the travel of said mechanism, and severing said plaster board atthe ends of its travel in either direction.

5. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which con: sists in forming flexible plaster board, reciprocating theforming mechanism above a receiver, flowing said plaster board upon saidreceiver during the travel of said mechanism, and moving said mechanismtransversely to its reciprocating travel, whereby parallel rows ofplaster board may be stacked on said receiver.

6. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which consists in forming flexible plaster board, reciprocating theforming mechanism above a receiver, flowing said plaster board upon saidreceiver during travel of said mechanism, moving said mechanismtransversely to its reciprocating travel, and severing said plasterboard at the ends of its travel in either direction, whereby parallelrows of plaster board may be stacked on said receiver.

7 The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which consists in forming flexible plaster board, horizontallyreciprocating the forming mecha nism above a receiver, laying saidplaster board downwardly upon said receiver during the travel of saidmechanism, and moving said mechanism transversely to its reciprocatingtravel, whereby parallel rows of plaster board may be stacked.

8. The herein disclosed process of handling plaster board and the like,which consists of forming flexible plaster board, horizontallyreciprocating the forming mechanism above a receiver, laying the plasterboard downwardly upon said receiver during the travel of said mechanism,severing said plaster board at the ends of its travel in eitherdirection, and moving said mechanism transversely to its reciprocatingtravel, whereby parallel rows of plaster board may be stacked on saidreceiver.

9. In a laster boardapparatus, a traveling plaster board formingmechanism comprising means to continuously advance and convey plasterboard to a surface upon which it is laid.

10. In plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevatedstructure, a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travellongitudinally thereof comprising means to continuously advance andconvey plaster board, and a receiver disposed beneath said structure onwhich said plaster board is piled.

11. In a plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevatedstructure, a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travellongitudinally and transversely thereof, and a receiver disposed beneathsaidstructure on which said plaster board is piled.

12. In plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevated way, aplatform mounted thereon to travel longitudinally thereof, plaster boardforming mechanism mounted to travel on said platform transversely ofsaid way, and receivers disposed beneath said structure on which saidplaster board is piled. 1

13. In plaster board forming apparatus, the combination of an elevatedstructure, a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travellongitudinally thereof, receivers disposed beneath said structure, and aconveyer secured to said plaster board forming mechanism to continuouslydeliver said plaster board therefrom to said receivers on which saidplaster board is placed.

14. In a plaster board forming apparatus, the combination of an elevatedstructure, a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travellongitudinally and transversely thereof, receivers disposed beneath saidstructure, aconveyer secured to said plaster board forming mechanism todeliver said plaster board therefrom to said receivers on which saidplaster board is placed.

15. In a plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevated way, aplatform mounted thereon to travel longitudinally thereof, plaster boardforming mechanism mounted to travel on said platformtransversely of saidway, receivers disposed beneath said structure, and a conveyer securedto said plaster board forming mechanism to deliver said plaster boardtherefrom to said receivers.

16. In plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevatedstructure, a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travellongitudinally thereof, receivers disposed beneath said structure, and aconveyer secured to said plaster board forming mechanism so that thedelivery end may be raised and lowered.

17 In plaster board apparatus, the combination of an elevated structure,a plaster board forming mechanism mounted to travel longitudinally andtransversely thereof, receivers disposed beneath said structure, aconveyer secured to said plaster board forming mechanism so that itsdelivery end may be raised and lowered.

18. In plasterboard apparatus, the comto said plaster board formingmechanism bination of an elevated Way, a platform so that its deliveryendvmay he raised and a mounted thereon to travel longitudinallylowered. 10

thereof, plaster board forming mechanism, In witness that I claim theforegoing I 5 mounted to travel on said platform transhave hereuntosubscribed my name this 30th versely of said way, receivers disposedbeday of April,'1 920. neath said structure, and a conveyer secured JOHNSCHUMAGHER.

